In a column published in The Signal on April 28 entitled "Evidence for minimum wage increase," Charlie Vignola took on the topic of the $15/hour minimum wage that people are demonstrating about in various venues around the country.

Across the country and in communities like Santa Clarita, government employees serve and protect us every day. Throughout the year, but especially during Public Service Recognition Week May 3-9, we should gratefully acknowledge their service.

I am pleased to support Assembly Bill 866, introduced by Eduardo Garcia, because it provides the opportunity for agencies to consider the impacts of regulations on small business, paving the way for less costly and less burdensome regulations for small business.

In a Signal article published Tuesday, the California High-Speed Rail Authority claimed it "go(es) above and beyond by not only opening all our monthly board meetings to the public, but also our committee meetings," and that "the (rail authority) is in full compliance with all laws governing public meetings in California."

I find it sadly ironic that the Pentagon has announced it will pay for the sex-change therapy of Private Bradley/Chelsea Manning, who was convicted in July 2013 of violations of the Espionage Act and other offenses, but it will not cover the care and treatment for Staff Sgt. Shawn Manning, a victim of the November 2009 Fort Hood massacre, because the latter is not considered "combat related."

With the governor announcing his demand for a 25 percent decrease in municipal water usage due to the drought crisis, it occurs to me that perhaps its time for all of the Sacramento politicians to really face this problem.